Peter --

You might ask Edith Gomberg (who was also at Yale in the early alcohol
center days) about her take on Marconi's view of alcoholism.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Ron



-----Original Message-----
From: Alcohol and Drugs History Society [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Peter Ferentzy
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 1:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Marconi

I've been reading and rereading Juan Marconin's article "The Concept of
Alcoholism" J. S. Alcohol, 20(2) 1959.

I find it hard to read, and am wondering. Part of Marconi's critique of
19th century medical ideas on chronic drunkenness is that alcoholic
drinking bouts are thought always to be preceded by depression,
rendering "craving" derivative rather than an etiological, explanatory
construct in its own right (as it is with Jellinek to whom Marconi is
sympathetic).
  Am I right? Has anyone written up on this article?

Thanks,
Peter